Post It Notes: Hottest Headlines on 1/22

Are you suffering from a case of too-many-news-sources-and-not-enough time? Don’t worry, there’s a cure. JET rounds up the relevant headlines of the day in entertainment, breaking news and lifestyle trends.

Former Dallas Cowboys player Josh Brent was convicted of intoxication manslaughter Wednesday for a fiery wreck that killed his teammate and close friend, Jerry Brown. Brent, 25, showed no reaction when he learned the verdict. He was led from the courtroom in handcuffs in front of crying family members who were in the front row of the courtroom gallery.

A North Carolina grand jury has decided not to indict Charlotte police officer Randall Kerrick in the death of Florida A&M University football player Jonathan Ferrell. Ferrell, 24, was shot 10 times and killed in September 2013 while he was seeking assistance following a car accident. The FAMU player went to a nearby house for help, but the homeowner called 911 because she didn’t recognize Ferrell.

PBS will commemorate Black History Month with shows including a profile of “The Color Purple” author Alice Walker. The public television service announced Tuesday that the program about Walker will air Feb. 7 as part of the “American Masters” series.

A new, 9-meter (29.5-foot) sculpture of Nelson Mandela is billed as the biggest statue of the South African leader. It also has a tiny, barely visible quirk: a sculpted rabbit tucked inside one of the bronze ears. South African officials want the miniature bunny removed from the statue, which was unveiled outside the government complex in Pretoria, the capital, on Dec. 16, a day after Mandela’s funeral. The department of arts and culture said it didn’t know the two sculptors, Andre Prinsloo and Ruhan Janse van Vuuren, had added a rabbit, said to be a discreet signature on their work.

Sylvia Rhone, founder and CEO of Vested in Culture (an extension of Epic Records) will receive the 2014 Presidential Award for Sustained Executive Achievement on Wednesday, May 7 as part of the Music Biz 2014 annual convention. Rhone is the first female executive to receive the award, according to a press release.

Claudius Smith has claimed self-defense in the fatal shooting of a suspected burglar last week. It appears as though Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law could factor into the case. Sound familiar? We can only hope justice prevails in this situation.

Family and friends paid their last respects to 4-year-old Myls Dobson, who was allegedly starved and recently tortured by his father’s girlfriend. The funeral took place Tuesday night amid harsh winter weather in New York City. The girlfriend has been charged with assault and reckless endangerment.

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